New records and typifications for Lauraceae in Singapore 
169 
Distribution. Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. In Singapore, it is only reported 
from two specimens both without a locality or date (Cantley’s Collector s.n. (SING); 
Unknown s.n. (BM)). 
Ecology. In the rest of its range growing in lowland and hill forests, sometimes along 
rivers, from 90-975 m altitude. Flowering all year round; fruiting from February to 
March. 
Conservation. Least Concern (LC) globally, this species is widespread and has been 
collected over a wide area in the last 20 years (see also IUCN, 2017). In Singapore, 
it has been collected only twice, in the late 19th or early 20th century, and must, 
therefore, be considered to be nationally extinct. 
Notes. There are eleven different gatherings, which are usually duplicated in several 
herbaria, available for lectotypification for this name. As Gamble was working at K 
when he wrote his paper (Gamble, 1910), the K specimen of the gathering: L. Wray 
2286 (K000797118) is designated here as the lectotype. 
As mentioned above, it is only known from Singapore by two specimens, 
one at SING, collected by Cantley’s Collector , without a collection number, while a 
specimen with no collector’s name and number is housed at BM. Cantley worked in 
Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore in the 1880’s. During this time, he had a collector 
(M.V. Alvins) who also made collections for him from the same area, Alvins’ labelling 
is said to be inadequate (only giving the state for localities) and sometimes incorrect 
(Van Steenis-Kruseman, 1950: 100). The label on the BM collection is from the early 
20th century. It seems likely, therefore, that both these specimens where collected in 
the period between 1880 and 1900, with a question mark about the accuracy of the 
locality of Cantley’s Collector (M.V. Alvins). The species is common in the lowlands 
of Peninsular Malaysia, but is not known from open vegetation. It is, therefore, not 
surprising that it used to grow in Singapore and that it now no longer does. However, 
the species is difficult to recognise as it is morphologically similar to the very common 
Litsea umbellata (Lour.) Merr. and could, therefore, have been overlooked in surveys. 
Litsea tomentosa Blume, Bijdr. FI. Ned. Ind. 11: 566 (1826); Gamble, J. Asiat. Soc. 
Bengal 75: 132 (1912); Ridley, FI. Malay Penins. 3: 115 (1924); Backer & Bakhuizen, 
FI. Java (Spermatoph.) 1: 125 (1963); Kostermans, Bibliogr. Lauracearum 886 (1964); 
Kochummen in Ng, Tree FI. Malaya 4: 165 (1989); Ngernsaengsaruay et al., Thai 
Forest Bull., Bot. 33: 90 (2011). - TYPE: [Indonesia] Java, C.L. Blume s.n. (lectotype 
K [K000815822], designated by Ngernsaengsaruay et al. (2011: 90)). 
Tree 6—40 m tall; dbh 7—40 cm, buttresses extending out to 60 cm; bark smooth, 
lenticellate, greyish or light brown to black, inner bark red brown, wood yellow. 
Twigs slender to stout 3.8-12 mm thick, round or angular in cross-section, velutinous, 
glabrescent; hairs appressed to patent, yellowish; terminal leaf bud 5.5-8.3 mm 
